Why Jesus Taught People If They Want To See God Work in New Ways They Must Be Willing to do New Things (Matt 14:29-31)
Illustration:He was born in Columbus, Ohio, 1890, the third of eight children. At eleven he quit school to help with the family expenses, and got his first full-time job at $3.50 per week. At fifteen he got interested in automobiles and went to work in a garage at $4.50 a week. He knew he would never get anywhere without more schooling, so he subscribed to a correspondence home study course on automobiles. Night after night, following long days at the garage, he worked at the kitchen table by the light of the kerosene lamp. His next step was already planned in his mind--a job with Frayer-Miller Automobile Company of Columbus.
One day when he felt ready, he walked into the plant. Lee Frayer was bent over the hood of a car. The boy waited. Finally, Frayer noticed him. "Well," he said, "what do you want?" "I just thought I’d tell you I’m coming to work here tomorrow morning," the boy replied. "Oh! Who hired you?" "Nobody yet, but I’ll be on the job in the morning. If I’m not worth anything, you can fire me." Early the next morning the young man returned to the garage. Frayer was not yet there. Noticing that the floor was thick with metal shavings and accumulated dirt and grease, the boy got a broom and shovel and set to work cleaning the place.
The rest of the boy’s future was predictable. He went on to a national reputation as a racing car driver and automotive expert. In World War I he was America’s leading flying ace. Later he founded Eastern Airlines. His name--Eddie Rickenbacker.
Bits & Pieces, December, 1989, p. 22ff.
1. Jesus knew that faith and obedience must be expressed in new actions for maturing believers. When the Lord Jesus invited Peter to walk on the water He said, "Come." Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and beginning to sink, cried out, "Lord, save me!" Jesus said, "You of little faith, why did you doubt?" (Matt. 14:29-31) Often new experiences require a higher level of faith and obedience.
Let the Lord show you greater things as you express a new willingness to venture in uncharted waters of relationships, ministries and obedience.
Illustration:Faith and works should travel side by side, step answering to step, like the legs of men walking. First faith, and then works; and then faith again, and then works again -- until they can scarcely distinguish which is the one and which is the other.
William Booth in The Founder’s Messages to Soldiers, Christianity Today, October 5, 1992, p. 48.
2. Jesus honored people who risked shame, frustration and disappointment in coming to Him by faith. A Canaanite woman came crying to Jesus, "Lord, have mercy on me! My daughter is suffering terribly from demon-possession. The disciples said, ’Send her away’. The came and knelt before Jesus and said, "Even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.’ Then Jesus answered, "Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted. And her daughter was healed was healed from that very hour." (Matt. 15:22-28) Be willing to risk in order to see God work great things for you and your people.
Illustration:God our Father has made all things depend on faith so that whoever has faith will have everything, and whoever does not have faith will have nothing.
Martin Luther.
3. Jesus knew that people who are not willing to change risk losing everything. A rich young ruler came to Jesus and asked, "Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?" Jesus answered, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor. And you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow Me." When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth." (Matt. 19:16,21)
Do not let your unwillingness to change cheat you out of the great things God wants to do in and through your life.
Illustration:Faith in God makes great optimists. Over in Burma, Judson was lying in a foul jail with 32 lbs. of chains on his ankles, his feet bound to a bamboo pole. A fellow prisoner said, "Dr. Judson, what about the prospect of the conversion of the heathen?", with a sneer on his face. His instant reply was, "The prospects are just as bright as the promises of God."
The Presbyterian Advance.
4. Jesus remembered how His Father in heaven told Abram, "Leave your country, your people and your father’s household and go to the land I will show you. I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing." (Gen. 12:1,2) The Lord Jesus realized that all people are tempted to stay with what is familiar and secure, but God calls them to greater places throughout life.
Ask the Lord to help you to be more like Abraham who staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief, but who grew strong in faith being fully persuaded that what God promised, He was able to deliver. (Rom. 4:20,21)
Illustration:One night a house caught fire and a young boy was forced to flee to the roof. The father stood on the ground below with outstretched arms, calling to his son, "Jump! I’ll catch you." He knew the boy had to jump to save his life. All the boy could see, however, was flame, smoke, and blackness. As can be imagined, he was afraid to leave the roof. His father kept yelling: "Jump! I will catch you." But the boy protested, "Daddy, I can’t see you." The father replied, "But I can see you and that’s all that matters."
5. Jesus called the disciples out of their vocational and family security to become full time fishers of men. The Lord Jesus called Peter and Andrew while they were casting a net into the lake of Galilee. He said, "Follow Me and I will make you fishers of men." (Matt. 4:19) We may not know of the changes ahead, but we can be confident in the character of our leader who does not change. (Heb. 13:8) Where God leads, He provides.
6. Jesus knew that the majority of believers would remain unwilling to change their jobs, their schedules or their relationships for fear of trying something new. The Lord Jesus said, "Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom." (Luke 12:32) Ask the Lord’s help in overcoming your fears of change.
7. Jesus knew how to motivate people to try new things. Jesus sent 72 disciples out two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was to preach. He told them, "The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest to send workers into his harvest field_ He who listens to you listens to me; he who rejects you rejects me. The 72 returned with joy and said, ’Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name.’"(Luke 10:1,16,17) Ask the Lord for wisdom, knowledge and passion to motivate your disciples to try new ministries for His kingdom purposes.
8. Jesus wanted people to see greater things through their new ministries. Jesus said, "Unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me." (John 12:24-26) In order to see greater things we must be willing to lay aside some of our comfortable lifestyle and surrender it fully follow our Lord and His ministries.
Ask the Lord to help you to escape from your comfort zone and follow the Jesus wherever He takes you.
Remember the famous song: "Anywhere with Jesus you can safely go. Anywhere He leads you in this world below. Anywhere without Him dearest joys will fade. Anywhere with Jesus is a house of praise."
Conclusion:When Hudson Taylor went to China, he made the voyage on a sailing vessel. As it neared the channel between the southern Malay Peninsula and the island of Sumatra, the missionary heard an urgent knock on his stateroom door. He opened it, and there stood the captain of the ship. "Mr. Taylor," he said, "we have no wind. We are drifting toward an island where the people are heathen, and I fear they are cannibals." "What can I do?" asked Taylor. "I understand that you believe in God. I want you to pray for wind." "All right, Captain, I will, but you must set the sail." "Why that’s ridiculous! There’s not even the slightest breeze. Besides, the sailors will think I’m crazy." But finally, because of Taylor’s insistence, he agreed. Forty- five minutes later he returned and found the missionary still on his knees. "You can stop praying now," said the captain. "We’ve got more wind than we know what to do with!"
Unknown.
Faith believes that God’s will done in God’s way will not lack God’s provisions. (Hudson Taylor - Founder of China Inland Mission - By 1949 they had seen 1 million Chinese turn to faith in Christ. Today there are more than 100 million Christians in China as it has become the fastest growing nation in history. Faith is the evidence of things not seen, the assurance of things hoped for. (Heb. 11:1)
